Tennozan

Literal meaning

Historical meaning

A small (270m) strategically-located mountain on the Kyoto/Osaka border, over which a decisive battle was fought in the medieval (1582) "Yamazaki wars" between Toyotomi Hideyoshi (who won) and Akechi Mitsuhide. Thus, commanding position or strategic point. By extension, a battle over such a position or competition to occupy it first.

Go meanings

A high, commanding point critical to both sides, with the potential to decide the direction of the game. Often, a board-dominating point at the boundary of opposing moyos, or boshi-like move. Often occurs near the end of the fuseki or the beginning of the middle game. Merely being big or strategic does not suffice to make a move or point tennozan.

Decisive game. In a seven-game series tied 2-2, the fifth game is crucial. It will place one player just one win away from victory; the other player just one loss away from defeat (kadoban). The winning player will have a "commanding position" in the series. Thus, such a game is also called tennozan.

Position from game between Go Seigen, taking three stones, and Honinbo Shusai, Jan. 1-19, 1930. In his commentary in Go Seigen's book Saishin Uchigo Kenkyuu, vol. II, p. 109, Go notes, "a (the move played in the game) should have been at , a point worthy of the name tennozan (tennouzan tomo iu beki tokoro)."

Concerning this game, Go relates: "This was a three-stone game played against Shusai Meijin under a 2-3-2 handicap. Mistakenly believing it was instead 2-2-3, I placed two stones on the board, only to be gruffly told by Shusai Meijin, 'mittsu (three)'. I recall how I instantly tensed up." Although not a particularly good game for Go, he did end up winning by 11 points.

Example 9

16th GS Caltex Cup Moves 22 - 25

With move white soberly protects the corner. Black's jump at , is played on the point that determines the growth of each player's influence and at the same time the reduction of other player's; this point is absolutely Tennozan. By contrast, Jin Zhixi turns a blind eye to this urgent point. It is truly difficult to understand why he would allow his opponent to play there.

Miscellaneous

Oblique historical connection with go: the victor at the historical battle of Tennozan was Hideyoshi who defeated Akechi Mitsuhide, having chased after him when he (Mitsuhide) killed Oda Nobunaga? on the night of the alleged triple ko game with Honinbo Sansa.

Other usages: Shogi (there is a proverb that the centre square is the Tennozan); sports (decisive match).